Can opener



search H01 FIP8308 W. M. MILNE July 11, 1939.

CAN OPENER Filed Sept. 23, 1935 INVENTOR lA/E um TORNEY Patented July 11, 1939 UNITED STATES UUQI DH PATENT OFFICE CAN OPENER William M. Milne, Jersey City, N. 1., assignor to Harold H. Hoile, Brooklyn, N. Y

Application September 23, 1935, Serial No. 41,655

13 Claims.

This invention particularly relates to improvements in means for opening metal cans containing beverages under pressure, as for instance beer, ale, or other liquids containing carbon di- 5 oxide (CO2), although improved means for opening liquid-filled cans not under pressure is also contemplated.

At the present time, the manufacturers of beer and other carbonated beverages are seeking to eliminate the glass bottle as a medium for bringing their products into hotels, restaurants, and clubs, and into the home of the consumer. They have resorted to a sealed metal container as a better, more economical and safer means for accomplishing this. The manifold advantages of the metal container over the glass bottle in this connection need not here be discussed but the invention does seek to correct one disadvantageous fault characteristic of liquids sealed un- 29 der pressure. That fault is the sudden foaming or effervescing of the liquid in the container at the moment of exposure to atmosphere. While this does not ordinarily occur when the liquid is properly chilled, it does occur when the liquid hasnt been sufiiciently chilled, or has increased its temperature before being opened and after removal from the cooling medium, or upon agitation of the container prior to opening.

As can be readily understood the sudden efiere vescing of a carbonated beverage, especially beer,

might well cause a promiscuous soiling of clothing, food and table napery, and would altogether be conductive to the great discomfiture of persons in the immediate vicinity. Similarly, the

liquid in a full can of, for instance, lubricating oil, would spurt upwardly .during opening due to the sudden displacement of liquid by the opener and metal severed by the opener.

The invention, therefore, seeks to provide em- 40 cient means for rendering safe the opening of a beverage-containing metal can having internal pressure.

The invention also seeks to provide a combined shield or bafiie for the interception of the escaping liquid of an efiervescing sealed beverage and means for opening the can containing said beverage.

There is also contemplated the provision of independent means for shielding or intercepting ane foaming liquid, access, through the shield,

fbeing provided for a can opener of conventional design.

The invention also contemplates the provision of the above mentioned'shielding means either 5 as a member removably applicable to a sealed beverage container or as one which is fixedly attached thereto and discarded with the emptied container.

The invention also seeks to provide an easier means of opening the can as by a downward top pressure rather than by pressure applied by an upward lift.

The above contemplated features and advantages of theinvention and others later apparent may be more readily visualized from the following detailed specification which is based on the accompanying drawing in which certain preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage container having applied thereon a preferred form of combined shield and opener.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section, of the upper portion of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the combined shield and opener.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 of an alternate form of the invention as fixedly incorporated with the can structure.

Fig. 5 is a broken perspective view of another modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view showing the invention as comprising a fixture to which a can may be applied for safe opening.

,Fig. '7 is a side elevational view of a unitary fixture incorporating features of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail and with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the can ID in a conventional manner is provided with substantially flat ends ll, spun or crimped over the side walls of the can to form peripheral beads or ridges l2. The can above described forms no part of the invention, being entirely conventional and according to practice.

The invention as exemplified in the drawing, comprises, generally, a shield or baille l3, domed as at M to provide a space between the shield and the can end H, and having a peripheral flange l5 adapted to engage the bead or ridge I! of the can. While the flange l5 may be ordinarily sumcient for eflectively positioning the shield on the can, it is preferred to provide an inturned portion IS on the flange for substantially halt the periphery of the shieldZi-said lip being engageable with the bead for more effectively retaining said shield on said can. It is apparent, also, that the shield as above described is capable of ready application to and removal from the can.

llUUlll Constructed in this manner, the shield, forms effective means for preventing the spurting of liquid under pressure upon surrounding objects and persons when an opener such as shown at 0 (Figure 4) is applied through the opening I! in the shield. When the can has been thus opened and the opener O removed, the contents of the can may be poured through the opening l1. 7

As is apparent from Figure 4, the shield 13 may be fixedly incorporated with the can as by simply spinning in or crimping the portion l6a of the flange [5 with the edge portions of the can and head which form the bead [2.

When fixedly provided with the can, the shield may also be formed with means such as the hooked seats 18 for the reception of the trunnions IQ of a can opener 20 which comprises a V-shaped cutter 2i adapted to displace a V-shaped portion from the end of the can, and a handle portion 22 which may preferably be disposed at an angle to the cutter.

However, when the shield is formed as a removable adjunct to the can, the cutter may be incorporated as a non-removable portion as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. In this event, the trunnions 19 of the opener 20 are engaged in pivot loops 23 integrally formed with the shield and adapted to operate as shown in Figure 2; the handle 22 being moved towards the right to depress the cutter 2| and thus shearing and displacing the portion i la of the can top H to provide the opening lib therein.

If desired, the cutter 2| may be cut away as at 24 to avoid any obstruction in the path of the liquid when being poured.

It is believed that the invention is best carried out by arranging the opener so that a downward push on the handle 22 thereof will cause the cutter to perform its opening function, thereby insuring intimate contact of the shield lips with the can to prevent spilling of the can contents.

It will be noted that as the cutter is actuated to open the can, its entering edge first displaces a quite small V-shaped portion of the can top which becomes increasingly larger as the cutting operation progresses. The operation is quite fast being preferably accomplished by a quick movement of the handle, but, since the opening in the can top starts substantially at the center of the can, the initial spurt of liquid would ordinarily impinge the shield at a point remote from the opening H, the shield thus eifectively accomplishing its purpose.

The shield may also be provided, as shown in Fig. 5, with a pouring spout 25. The utility of the shield, especially when provided as a separate article of commerce, would be quite enhanced with this addition.

In hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs, and even in the home, it may be desirable to incorporate the shield and opener as a permanent fixture as shown in Fig. 6, or as a self-supported device as shown in Fig. 7. Carbonated beverage filled containers may be, by means of such a fixture, quickly and easily opened, and upon dissipation of the pent up gases through vent means such as shown at 26, the container may be removed from the fixture and poured in the usual manner.

As shown in Fig. 7, .the invention may be incorporated in a unitary fixture including a base 21. In this instance the lip portion l6 may be omitted from the shield I4, the downward strain on the can being taken by the base.

In both of the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and '7, means suchasthe spring 28 may be employed to return the handle 22 and the cutter operated thereby to the initial raised position ready for receiving another can.

Obviously, the shield may be eliminated for some purposes, and a mere skeleton frame provided to engage the top can rim, or a support for the can bottom, to which frame or support may be pivoted the can opener as herein disclosed.

From the foregoing it can be seen, that improved means have been provided for safely opening a can containing a carbonated beverage or in fact any other liquid. It is also evident that improved can opening means have been disclosed whereby a can of any contents may be opened by the application of downward pressure applied to a lever. It is also readily apparent that changes not involving the exercise of invention, may well be made without departing from the general scope of the invention as herein set forth and claimed. If limitations are to be imposed, these should be based on the prior art.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a sealed container of liquid under pressure, said container having a peripheral bead or ridge around its end, a shield comprising a domed portion having a locking flange with an inturned edge portion or portions adapted to fit and look under said bead or ridge, but separable therefrom by sidewise sliding movement and spaced from an end thereof whereby upon piercing said end liquid forced from the container by the mentioned pressure is intercepted by said shield, and means pivotally associated with said shield for piercing said end only after the shield and container have been interengaged.

2. In combination with a sealed container of liquid under pressure, a shield non-removably attached to the container and spaced from an end thereof whereby upon piercing said end liquid forced from the container by the mentioned pressure is intercepted by said shield, a segmental opening in said shield through which the liquid from the container may pass, and means pivotally associated with said container for piercing said end.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a shield for association with a sealed container of liquid under pressure, said container having a peripheral bead or ridge around its end, said shield comprising a domed portion, peripheral flange portions having inturned edges adapted to slidably removably engage and look under the peripheral beaded portion of the container, said domed portion also being spaced from the end of said container and thereby providing a chamber for receiving liquid forced from the container when said end is pierced, and said shield also being formed with a liquid pouring opening adjacent on edge thereof, whereby upon piercing the container, liquid forced therefrom by the mentioned pressure is intercepted by the shield and may be dispensed through said pouring opening, and means pivoted to said shield for piercing said end only after the shield and container have been interengaged.

4. In combination with a sealed container of liquid under pressure, a shield spaced from an end of said container whereby upon piercing said end liquid forced from the container by the mentioned pressure is intercepted by said shield, said shield having peripheral means for engagement with a peripheral beaded portion of the con- ZZOT'ME'TA'LUC RECEPTACLES,

tainer and having a segmental pouring opening for the dispensing of the liquid in said container, said opening also providing access for a piercing tool to said end, and a piercing tool associated with the shield for rotation around the edge of said opening for piercing said end only after said shield and container have been interengaged.

5. In combination with a sealed container of liquid under pressure, means for piercing and producing an unobstructed opening in an end of said container and a shield for intercepting the liquid forced from the container through said pierced end by the mentioned pressure, said shield having a segmental opening through which the liquid may be poured, said piercing means comprising a bell crank lever having one end shaped as a cutter, pivotally attached to and rotating upon said shield and being operable to pierce the container.

6. As a new article of manufacture, for association with a sealed container of liquid under pressure, a combined opener and shield comprising a domed portion having a pouring opening and a bell crank lever cutter pivoted to said domed portion along one edge of the opening and adapted by rotation of said lever to pierce and depress a portion of said container adjacent said domed portion to form an unobstructed opening in said container.

7. For association with a sealed container of liquid under pressure, a new article of manufacture comprising a shield having peripheral portions adapted to removably and interlockingly engage a peripheral beaded portion of a container and spaced from an end thereof for intercepting liquid forced through an opening in said end by said mentioned pressure, and means comprising a bell crank lever and a cutter pivoted to the shield and pivotally actuatable by pressure applied to the lever for forming the mentioned opening.

8. As a new article of manufacture, for association with a sealed container of liquid, a combined opener and shield comprising a domed portion having a pouring opening and a cutter pivoted to said domed portion for operation under said shield, a lever handle integral with said cutter and extending above said shield for swinging the cutter on its pivot, said cutter being adapted during its rotation to pierce and depress a portion of said container adjacent said shield.

9. For association with a sealed container having a bead or ridge on its end, a member having an inturned edge portion adapted for interlocking but removable engagement with the bead or ridge of said container and means pivoted to said member for displacing a portion of said end whereby said container is opened, said means comprising a cutter portion on one side of the pivot and handle means on the other side of said pivot adapted to be moved toward the mentioned member.

10. As a new article of manufacture for association with the beaded end of a sealed can of liquid UUQI DH under pressure, a shield adapted to be interlockingly associated in spaced relation to and to substantially cover said end, said shield having a downturned flange to fit around the bead, inturned portions on said flange adapted to fit and look under said bead or ridge but separable therefrom by sidewise sliding relative movement between the shield and the can, said shield having a segmental opening through which access for a can opener may be had to the head of the can, and through which the contents of the can may be poured, a bell crank lever pivoted to the shield along the chordal edge of said segmental opening, one arm of the lever constituting a cutter which extends inwardly from said chordal edge and between the shield and the can head, the other arm of the lever constituting a handle which extends upwardly from said chordal edge, said cutter being adapted to pierce and depress a portion of the head of the can while being rotated on its pivot by pressure exerted on the handle.

11. As a new article of manufacture for association with the beaded end of a sealed can of liquid, a shield adapted to interlockingly receive the beaded end of the can in spaced relation to and to substantially cover said end, said shield having a downturned flange to fit around the bead, inturned portions on said flange adapted to fit and look under said bead or ridge, but separable therefrom by sidewise sliding relative movement between the shield and the can, a support for the shield, a bell crank lever pivoted to the support adjacent the shield, one arm of the lever constituting a cutter and extending inwardly between the shield and the can head, the other arm of the lever constituting a handle and extending upwardly above the shield, said cutter being adapted to pierce and depress a portion of the head of the can interlocked with said shield while the cutter is being rotated on its pivot by pressure exerted on the handle.

12. In combination with a sealed container, means for piercing and producing an opening in an end of said container, said piercing means comprising a bell crank lever and cutter attached to and rotating upon a shield or cover spaced from an end of said container, said shield having peripheral means for engagement with a peripheral beaded portion of the container, said shield remaining fixed and stationary during the piercing operation.

13. In combination with a sealed container, means for piercing and producing an opening in an end of said container, said piercing means comprising a bell crank lever and cutter attached to and rotating upon a shield or cover spaced from an end of said container, said shield having peripheral means for engagement with a peripheral beaded portion of the container, said shield remaining fixed and stationary during the piercing operation, and having a segmental opening through which the contents of the container may be poured.

WILLIAM M. MILNE. 

